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Books to celebrate International Literacy Day

To celebrate International Literacy Day today, here’s a list of brilliant books for the budding readers in your sections.

A book can be a lifeboat. When we’re lonely reading makes us feel closer to the world; when we’re overwhelmed it’s a way to escape it. Books give us knowledge, entertainment, comfort, inspiration. Best of all, they help us understand how people feel.

In the fictional world of a stranger we slip into their shoes. Which is why studies reveal powerful links between reading fiction and developing empathy. So in a movement that’s all about friendship and inclusion (not to mention exploring!), maybe reading could make us better Scouts?

In a world where plain-bellied Sneetches are weighed up against star-bellied ones, Dr Seuss cleverly illustrates the dangers of discrimination. The story shows the injustice of holding any group superior to another and the importance of accepting people who are different to us (as well as ourselves).

The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter

Journeying alongside Jane Goodall from childhood to her heroic crusade to save chimps nearing extinction, we see how saving the world depends on activating our empathy for the most vulnerable.

Freak the Mighty takes us into the lives of two bullied boys banding together against the odds. The book offers a moving perspective of young people facing prejudice as a result of physical disability or social stigma.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

As a gentle Pig nears his slaughter date, his friend Charlotte the spider writes messages in her web to try and convince a farmer not to kill her friend Pig. Cubs reading this touching tale of friendship, might find their hearts growing a size.

Written from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, Anne Frank’s diary is a heartening example of courage and dignity in the face of prejudice and adversity.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Told from the perspective of nine-year-old Cassie, this hearwarming story gives us insight into the racism the writer and her family faced during the depression. The book emphasises the importance of hope and the power of family sticking together even as an unjust society tries to tear their world apart.

Other books Scouts might like: Wonder by R.J. Palacio, The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip by George Saunders

Linked Badges:

They say you can’t write unless you read. With this in mind reading is an ideal stepping-stone for Scouts working towards their Writer Activity Badge. Encourage your Scouts to read a book and consider how the book made them think about experiences in their own lives. Challenge them to write a story about those experiences, either from their perspective or from the perspective of a made-up character. Scouts can also work towards their Librarian Activity Badge by finding out how to look after and categorise books.

… For Explorers

I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai

This memoir of a young woman shot on her way home from school for fighting for the right to education is a powerful tale of courage. The story shows us the difference young people can make in the fight for the rights of all people.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Inviting readers to imagine an alternative history where Pangaea never split, this novel takes us to a single supercontinent where the roles of slavery are reversed. The story gives us insight into historical oppression and the cruelty of discrimination.

Other books Explorers might enjoy: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, White Teeth by Zadie Smith, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

Linked Badges:

Reading books from around the world is a good way to develop a deeper understanding of issues from around the globe. Encourage Explorers working towards their Global Issues Activity Badge to read I am Malala, to think about and compare access to education in different countries.

Using empathy to help combat bullying

Because stories help us think about other people’s feelings and perspectives, a book can be a springboard to talk about bullying. For further support on preventing and addressing bullying, take a look at our Anti-Bullying resources.

For support when it comes to dealing with bullying online and in the real world, our Stay Safe leaflets are a helpful resource. Give them to the young people in your section to empower them with the necessary knowledge and signposts to support.

Bonus! Books for adventure-lovers…

… For Beavers

The Gruffaloby Julia Donaldson, and The Gruffalo Explorer Nature Trail books are perfect to pair with activities specially created for Beavers to achieve their My Outdoor Challenge Award.

… For Cubs

Take your Cubs on a wild and wonderful journey with The Treehouse Books by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. They’re a perfect complement to our Treehouse Activity Sheets.